Donald Ross (Poem by James McIntyre)

Poem Analysis:

James McIntyre’s “Donald Ross” presents a narrative poem rooted in themes of displacement, endurance, and the search for renewed belonging. Written in a ballad-like structure and infused with Scottish cultural markers, the poem recounts the forced eviction of a Highland family and their eventual resettlement in Canada. McIntyre—a poet known for his affection for rural life and for portraying the pioneering spirit of settlers—shapes this story with sympathy for the victims of social injustice and admiration for the resilience of ordinary people.

A Pastoral Beginning: Harmony with Home

The opening stanza paints an idyllic scene:

Here McIntyre employs traditional pastoral imagery—moss, heather-covered hills, and mountain streams—to establish Donald Ross’s life as one of simplicity and contentment. The home is described as a “snug little cot,” and Donald as “content with his lot.” Such phrasing aligns with the romanticized vision of Highland rural life, emphasizing closeness to nature and modest prosperity. His joy is anchored in familial love, particularly his wife and “wee Flora,” whose presence symbolizes innocence and domestic happiness.

Displacement and the Highland Clearances

The tone shifts dramatically in the second stanza as McIntyre introduces the central conflict:

These lines refer unmistakably to the Highland Clearances, a historical series of evictions in 18th and 19th century Scotland during which tenants were forcefully removed from ancestral lands to make room for sheep farming or sporting estates. McIntyre condemns the cruelty of these actions, suggesting that noble landowners prioritized game hunting—symbolized by “the wild deer”—over human lives.

Donald Ross’s emotional response is immediate and visceral:

The contrast with the serene domestic happiness of the first stanza heightens the sense of injustice. The sorrow experienced by Donald’s family personalizes the broader historical tragedy, reminding readers that the Clearances were not abstract events but deeply traumatic disruptions to real families.

Critique of Social Inequality

The poem’s third stanza sharpens McIntyre’s moral criticism:

Here the poet’s sympathy for the dispossessed is explicit. McIntyre suggests a profound disconnect between the wealthy and the marginalized, a theme common in literature addressing the Clearances. The family is described as being “Drove on a barren moor,” reinforcing both the physical desolation they endure and the emotional barrenness inflicted upon them.

Yet even in hardship, the beauty and symbolic power of nature persist. Donald weaves a wreath of heath to “crown with glory” the brow of little Flora. This gesture, tender and ceremonial, reflects a father’s attempt to preserve dignity and affection amid loss. It also reinforces the connection between the family’s identity and the Highland landscape.

The Tragedy of Leaving Ancestral Land

The fourth stanza centers on farewell and generational rupture:

This sense of deep ancestral rootedness heightens the tragedy of eviction. McIntyre invokes heritage, continuity, and tradition to underscore the enormity of the loss. The imagery of goats and sheep feeding on steep hillsides evokes a long-standing subsistence lifestyle abruptly terminated. For Donald Ross and his family, the departure is not merely physical—it represents cultural and historical severing.

The repeated emphasis on “sad story” and the tenderness for “bonnie little Flory” keeps the poem grounded in emotional immediacy. The child’s presence amplifies the poignancy of forced migration and symbolizes the fragility of the family’s future.

Rebirth in a New World

The final stanza shifts atmospherically from loss to renewal:

The move to Canada—a common destination for displaced Highlanders—marks a turning point in the poem. Unlike the aristocratic landowners of Scotland, Canada offers Donald the opportunity to own his land, a form of empowerment denied to him at home. McIntyre frames this new beginning as “a glorious charm,” highlighting the contrast between oppression in Scotland and opportunity in the New World.

The imagery becomes expansive and productive: “his horses and his cows,” “cultivators and plows”—symbols of agricultural success, stability, and self-sufficiency. In this environment, Flora thrives and ultimately becomes “the flower of Zorra,” an affectionate reference to Zorra Township in Ontario, an area known for Scottish settlement. Flora embodies renewal, hope, and the flourishing of the next generation.